Episode 25

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Published on:

15th Feb 2026

Chapter 13: Me, Myself, and Ken.

Chapter 13 is a poignant exploration of grief, featuring a heartfelt discussion between Story and her sister-in-law, Terri. This chapter confronts the concept of 'Grief of the Self,' with Terri sharing her deeply personal journey following her diagnosis of Goodpasture Syndrome and the subsequent loss of her brother Ken, who was also Story's late husband. The dialogue illuminates the multifaceted nature of grief, particularly as it intertwines with one’s health struggles and identity. Terri recounts the abrupt onset of her health issues at the age of 22—a shocking moment that thrust her into a battle with chronic illness and impending mortality. Her narrative intertwines with the anguish of losing Ken, exploring how grief can simultaneously fracture and forge connections, particularly within a family that has experienced profound loss. The emotional weight of her experiences is palpable, as she reflects on the shifts in her self-perception and the challenges of navigating her new reality while mourning the loss of her brother. As the chapter unfolds, listeners are drawn into the complexities of Terri's journey, witnessing the intersection of illness and grief. Her candid reflections serve as a powerful reminder that grief is not merely a response to loss, but a transformative experience that reshapes our understanding of ourselves and our relationships with others. This chapter encourages a deeper engagement with the themes of loss, identity, and the enduring impact of love that transcends even the most profound sorrow.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sponsorship for The Upside to Grief

Mady's Tattoos Madys tattoos is based out of mission beach California where She specializes in Japanese traditional , black and grey , photography, art, and media. Mady believes that tattoos can be more than art, they are milestones, memories, and reminders of how far you’ve come. To learn more or book a session you can find her on instagram at madys_tattoos. Azadi Healing Azadi — which is FARSI for freedom — empowers individuals and communities through trauma-informed care and events such as nervous system regulation, reiki, sound healing, breathwork facilitation and more. Whether you're exploring healing or navigating grief, Azadi Healing offers a sacred space to come home to yourself and find your center. Remember that you’re never alone on this journey. Visit azadihealing.com

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About the Podcast

The Upside to Grief
Grief Podcast
Is there an upside to grief?

Your host Story & co-host Erika created this podcast to explore just that.

On The Upside to Grief podcast, Story and Erika and their guests will share their personal stories with grief and how it can be a transformative force. Story & Erika will have one-on-one conversations about the language around grief, redefining society’s views, and breaking cultural norms around grief. Quirky segments discussing other aspects intertwined with the grieving process such as; "Grief in the Wild", "Moments of Knowing", and "Questionable Grief Decisions" aka QGD's will follow each guest’s chapter.

Story & Erika don’t tip toe around the subject and share unapologetically about their views and opinions. In order to create a positive change and still acknowledge that grief just straight up sucks, we need to start normalizing having these uncomfortable conversations.

Story & Erika invite you to join them on this deeply personal and supportive journey as we all explore the transformative power of navigating loss.

You can follow The Upside to Grief on all social media linked below:
https://linktr.ee/theupsidetogrief

The Upside to Grief podcast is sponsored by Azadi Healing and Mady’s Tattoos.
Follow them on their social media below:

Azadi Healing
IG: @azadihealing
Website: https://azadihealing.com/

Mady’s Tattoo’s
IG: @Madys_Tattoos
FB: Madylyn Leclair

About your hosts

Story your host

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My name is Story and my husband died after eight years together. All of the plans we had, the hope for the future, and everything I thought I knew, disappeared in the blink of an eye. The crawling out of your skin feeling became my new norm. Navigating grief while re learning who the fuck I was, was something I never imagined myself doing. Learning to be someone that my husband will never know still makes me sick to my stomach to think about. I started completely from scratch living alone in California after my husband died. Two years after my husband passing I came up with the idea of creating The Upside to Grief Podcast. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying grief is happy, it is far from it. However when I embraced the transformation that comes with death, I started finding beautiful and peaceful moments in the dark. So I want to talk about it with you guys. During this time I met some of the most amazing people I am honored to now call my family. One of those amazing humans is your lovey co- host Erika! Ill let her introduce herself : )

Erika your co-host

Profile picture for Erika your co-host
My name is Erika, and my grief story revolves around my dad, Mike. He passed away in April 2023 after a long battle with cancer. We had only started to reconnect at the beginning of 2021, and in that brief time, I feel like we built the relationship we had always wanted with each other. His death completely and totally reshaped me as a person. It broke me and ripped me out of the reality I knew, but then grief was there as my constant companion. It was woven into everything that I did and thought. Grief became not just a companion but one of my greatest teachers. It has given me courage, strength, and a deep commitment to honor the bond I shared with my Dad. Losing him has been one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced, but I refuse to silence my love for him, my sadness at his loss, or my fondness of his memory. So much of me is because of him. I walk with grief now, and I genuinely hope others can also discover the beautiful possibilities that unfold along this journey by sharing what we have found here.